The Cruise Company

What The Cruise Company does

The Cruise Company, doing business as The Vacation Store & The Cruise Company, is a privately held, Omaha, Nebraska-based retail travel agency operating from a single location at 14137 Q Street with a staff of approximately 27 including four named travel specialists (Vaughn Richardson, Teri Richardson, Renae Gearhart, Shellie Pinegar). The company sells ocean and river cruises, all-inclusive resort vacations, escorted tours, and customized group trips to individual US consumers and small affinity groups, segmenting demand across family vacations, religious travel, LGBTQ travel, luxury travel, culinary adventures, and group getaways. Its supplier roster spans AmaWaterways, Viking, Silversea, Scenic, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Cunard, Celebrity Cruises, Hurtigruten, Emerald Cruises, Trafalgar, Brendan Vacations, Iberostar Resorts, and Bedsonline, with network affiliation to TravelSavers' Affluent Collection.

The business runs on a commission-based transaction-fee revenue model, with no disclosed service fees and no proprietary technology platform; the technical stack is limited to a website, toll-free phone (1-800-289-5505), email, and in-person consultation. Supporting engagement assets include a free Travel Club membership, a 100+ destination free PDF travel guide library, a content blog, a BestTripTV video partnership, and an email newsletter. The company has no API, no mobile apps, and no disclosed AI capabilities, positioning it as a traditional relationship-led consultancy rather than a technology-enabled travel platform.

Customer acquisition is content-led through downloadable guides, blog posts, and supplier promotion pages (e.g., 'A Summer of Possibilities'), with sales closing via phone or website inquiry form. Customer count, booking volume, commission rates, and revenue are not publicly disclosed, and there are no funding rounds, acquisitions, or leadership changes on record, consistent with a long-standing founder or family-owned independent agency.

Name

The Cruise Company

Legal name

The Vacation Store & The Cruise Company

Website

https://thecruisecompany.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Cruise Company is an Omaha, Nebraska-based retail travel agency that sells ocean and river cruises, all-inclusive resort vacations, escorted tours, and customized group trips to US consumers via a toll-free call center, website, and in-person consultation, earning commissions from a broad portfolio of cruise and tour suppliers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Travel Agency Services

NAICS

Travel Agencies (561510), Travel Agencies (56151), Tour Operators (561520)

akta.pro primary industry

Retail Cruise-Only Travel Agencies (Leisure) (THAKAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ocean Cruise Specialists (Mainstream/Contemporary) (THAKAKAG), Cruise Retail Travel Agencies (THAKABAF), Cruise Travel Agencies & Specialist Cruise Consultants (THAEAFAB), Cruise Planning & Booking (HSACAKAE)

Keywords

• Cruise booking services
• Travel agency services
• All-inclusive vacations
• Group travel planning
• Vacation consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Omaha

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Travel Commission Revenue: The company earns commissions from travel suppliers (cruise lines, resorts, tour operators) when customers book travel through their agency. Suppliers mentioned include AmaWaterways, Viking, Silversea, Scenic, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Cunard, Celebrity Cruises, Trafalgar, Brendan Vacations, Hurtigruten, Emerald Cruises, and others.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Cruise Company is a traditional travel agency that books ocean and river cruises, all-inclusive vacation packages, escorted tours, and group travel through experienced travel consultants. The agency acts as an intermediary between travelers and travel suppliers (cruise lines, resorts, tour operators), earning commissions from suppliers when customers book travel through them. Service includes personalized one-on-one consulting, itinerary selection, supplier deal negotiation, and post-booking consumer advocacy from planning through execution.

Product overview

The Vacation Store & The Cruise Company is a traditional travel agency offering cruise bookings, all-inclusive vacation packages, group travel planning, and personalized travel consulting services. The company's core offering centers on cruise booking across multiple cruise lines (AmaWaterways, Viking, Silversea, Scenic, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America, Cunard, Hurtigruten, Emerald Cruises, Trafalgar, AmaWaterways, and others). Supporting services include a free Travel Club membership with personalized consultant access, downloadable destination guides, travel insurance, entertainment tickets, and special deals promotions. The company operates as a service-based travel agency rather than a technology platform with no documented API or AI-powered products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cruise Booking Services The company's core offering involves booking and arranging ocean and river cruises through multiple cruise lines including AmaWaterways, Viking, Silversea, Scenic, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America, Cunard, Hurtigruten, and Emerald Cruises. Designed for individual travelers, couples, families, and groups seeking cruise experiences across global destinations.
• All-Inclusive Vacation Packages Pre-packaged vacation deals including all-inclusive resort stays with meals, drinks, and activities included. Featured partners include Iberostar Resorts offering savings up to 40% plus up to $600 in resort credits on stays of 6+ nights. Targeted at travelers seeking value-driven, hassle-free resort experiences primarily in Caribbean and tropical destinations.
• Group Travel Planning Customized group getaway planning services for social clubs, schools, religious organizations, friends, and family groups. Includes group discounts, complimentary rooms, upgrades, customized itineraries, and dedicated coordination across diverse preferences and budgets.
• Escorted Vacation Tours Pre-planned guided group tours with professional guides covering multiple destinations, including itineraries, transportation, and often meals. Partners include Trafalgar and Brendan Vacations with early booking discounts of 10% off select 2027 departures. Designed for travelers seeking simplified logistics and expert local guidance.
• Travel Insurance Services Travel insurance products offered to protect travelers' vacation investments. Provided as an add-on service to other bookings through the agency.
• Entertainment and Concert Tickets Ticketing services for entertainment events and concerts offered as part of vacation experiences, allowing travelers to bundle event attendance with their travel arrangements.

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AmaWaterwayscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary cruise line partner. The Cruise Company acts as a reseller for AmaWaterways river cruises across Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. Offers include 5% summer sale discounts, complimentary land packages, and early booking incentives on AmaWaterways 2026 and 2027 sailings.
• VikingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFeatured cruise line partner offering small award-winning ships with seamless travel experiences. Mentioned in summer promotions with lowest fares and exclusive offers.
• SilverseacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLuxury cruise partner featured in summer promotions offering up to 40% savings on select worldwide voyages.
• Royal CaribbeancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor cruise line partner with specialty dining promotions for select sailings including balcony and above stateroom bookings.
• Holland AmericacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFeatured partner with 'Have It All' bonus offers including free drinks, dining, Wi-Fi, and other amenities for early bookers.
• CunardcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFeatured cruise partner in summer 'Set Sail & Save' campaign offering up to 20% off launch fares across Cunard North America itineraries.
• SceniccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDiscovery Yachts cruise partner with savings up to $400 or up to €400 onboard credit per suite on select sailings.
• Celebrity CruisescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner cruise line with Caribbean sailing promotions offering up to $75 onboard credit on select departures.
• Emerald CruisesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRiver cruise partner with Star-Ships sailing European rivers including Rhine, Main, Moselle, Danube, Rhône, and Douro. Offers up to $250 savings or onboard credit per suite.
• TrafalgarcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEscorted tours partner with early booking discounts of 10% off select 2027 departures.
• HurtigrutenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExpedition cruise partner celebrating 130th anniversary with up to 25% off all-inclusive expeditions or free suite upgrades.
• Brendan VacationsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEscorted tour partner with 10% early booking discounts on select 2027 departures.
• Iberostar ResortsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAll-inclusive resort partner offering up to 40% savings plus up to $600 in resort credits on stays of 6+ nights.
• BedsonlineminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAccommodation booking partner with up to 25% savings on select stays for Florida beaches and outdoor destinations.
• TravelSavers Affluent CollectioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork membership providing access to preferred supplier rates, exclusive offers, and marketing affiliation with the Affluent Collection brand for luxury travel services.
• BestTripTVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVideo content partnership providing professional travel journalism content that entertains, informs, and inspires customers with insights from travel experts.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Avoya Travel: A large U.S. travel agency network with a strong cruise focus and an independent agent model. Directly comparable to The Cruise Company in positioning as a multi-line cruise reseller serving leisure customers through personalized consultant service.
• Expedia Cruises: Expedia's brick-and-mortar cruise-focused agency franchise network. Offers similar cruise booking services but with national brand recognition and parent-company technology and marketing support, competing head-to-head for cruise customers.
• Cruise Planners: A leading cruise-focused travel agency franchise network in the U.S. Like The Cruise Company, Cruise Planners specializes predominantly in cruise bookings with a human-advisor model, and sells across multiple cruise lines and vacation categories.
• Montrose Travel: A host agency supporting independent travel advisors, with strong cruise specialization. Comparable to The Cruise Company in its cruise-focused advisor model and multi-supplier booking approach, though operating via a host model rather than direct retail.
• Liberty Travel: A long-established U.S. retail travel agency chain specializing in leisure vacations, cruises, and escorted tours. Comparable to The Cruise Company in its cruise-and-vacation retail agency model and consumer-direct sales approach.
• Dream Vacations (Crown Cruise Vacations): A cruise- and vacation-focused home-based travel agent franchise network. Comparable to The Cruise Company in its cruise advisory model and multi-supplier approach, with broad vacation offerings beyond cruises.
• Vacations To Go: One of the largest U.S. cruise-only travel agencies, specializing in discounted cruise inventory across all major cruise lines. Closely comparable to The Cruise Company in its cruise-only specialization and commission-based agency model.

Broad incumbents

• AAA Travel: A well-established travel agency division of AAA, offering cruise, tour, and vacation packages to its massive membership base. Competes with The Cruise Company for leisure cruise customers but at significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• Travel Leaders Network: A large U.S. travel agency consortium serving both leisure and corporate clients. Comparable to The Cruise Company for cruise and vacation bookings, but with a national footprint and broader agency network affiliation.
• American Express Travel: A major financial-services-affiliated travel agency offering premium cruise and vacation services to cardholders. Competes with The Cruise Company in the high-end cruise and luxury segment, with stronger brand recognition and affluent customer access.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-cruise-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Cruise Company